yesterday and today

I didn't post yesterday.
We're having a hard time getting over this stomach bug. Kaylie is on round two of it and stayed home today due to being up all night long, poor girl. My stomach perpetually hurts and Claire just...stinks.
Josh got home Sunday night and started a new job being filmed on the Disney lot the very next morning. And...we had to cross the picket line. I say "we" because I dropped him off and picked him up the first day. He's not in any union (yet) and he's not doing the writers' job, so he's not technically a scab, is he?

jay, silent bob and...

...Josh! From last night's (pretty bad) MTV Movie Awards.
Jay, the clean and sober route works for you.
Kevin, you're our idol.
I'm totally jealous.

Kid Nation trailer

and the show name is...

KID NATION is a reality-based series in which 40 kids will have 40 days to build a new world - in a ghost town that died in the 19th Century. These kids, ages 8-15, will spend more than a month without their parents or modern comforts in Bonanza City, N.M., attempting to do what their forefathers could not - build a town that works. They will cook their own meals, clean their own outhouses, haul their own water and even run their own businesses - including the old town saloon (root beer only). They'll also create a real government - four kid leaders who will guide the group through their adventure, pass laws and set bedtimes. Through it all, they'll cope with regular childhood emotions and situations: homesickness, peer pressure and the urge to break every rule they've ever known. At the end of each episode, all 40 kids will gather at an old fashioned Town Hall meeting where they will debate the issues facing Bonanza City. They'll show wisdom beyond their years and the unflinching candor that only kids can exhibit. There are no eliminations on KID NATION - you only go home if you want to. And in every Town Hall meeting, kids may raise their hands and leave. Will they stick it out? In the end, will these kids prove to adults everywhere (and their own parents!) that they have the vision to build a better world than the pioneers who came before them? And just as importantly, will they come together as a cohesive unit, or will they abandon all responsibility and succumb to the childhood temptations that lead to round-the-clock chaos? KID NATION is produced by Emmy Award winner Tom Forman ("Extreme Makeover: Home Edition") for Tom Forman Prods. and Good TV, Inc.
Source: comingsoon.net

did you see the snow?

That was the big secret from the Red Hot Chili Peppers rehearsal. It was so amazing. Yes, there really was that much confetti. It was laid down pretty thick on everything, including the practically immobile guy next to us. I don't know how you can not get into the music, especially the band and the song that were playing, but that's just me. I still have bits of "snow" in my purse...I'll not be taking it out any time soon.

Seeing the Red Hot Chili Peppers rehearse really turned Claire into a new superfan. She's into all things Chili now and keeps asking when we'll be able to see them in concert again. So. Freaking. Cool! That girl. I dug out four old CDs and uploaded them to my iTunes library (for future import to my Nano as soon as my computer deems it worthy to be seen). Snow was definitely our anthem while Jake was here. What a great time.

grammys rehearsals

So did I mention that my best friend Gretchen sent me her son? To entrust me with her firstborn...I know she really loves me. Oh, but there's something in it for Jake too, other than carrying in my groceries and amusing my children. We're taking him to Grammys rehearsals! Watching rehearsals is definitely the best thing about Josh's job. Tonight we saw Mary J. Blige rehearse with a full orchestra (I was practically dancing in the aisles, she was so amazing) and then Gnarls Barkley, also with an orchestra. Freakin' phenomenal. Tomorrow our main goal is to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers rehearse.

Since Jake is a veggiesaurus, we did something very brave today for lunch. I've lived in this city all my life and have never been to the Hsi Lai Temple for even a visit. I'd always heard that they serve an excellent vegetarian buffet lunch for a minimal donation. I'm so glad we broke out of my comfort zone to try this! Such good food: rice, chow mein, bok choy, snow peas with red bell peppers, curried tofu, and some other yummy vegetable stuff. They're preparing the Temple for Chinese New Year next week - there was so much to see.

I'm really enjoying having Jake here and of course the girls are, too. He seemed to dig rehearsals tonight, especially getting his credential (he's an "intern"!) and all the freeway graffiti on the way down. Tomorrow we're going to try to make it downtown for an hour or two and maybe walk through the area around Olvera Street (I just know Abie and Bendy want Mucha Libra masks!) and take pictures of graffiti. Maybe drive through Chinatown, then back to The Heights to get Claire from school and hit the Temple buffet again before getting Kaylie and heading back to the Staples Center. Phew! Saturday - more rehearsals, possibly with just Josh to give Jake a break from the girls. Before he leaves on Sunday we're going to drive down to Hollywood and walk along Melrose Avenue. Jake will be in heaven. My plan to keep him in California to bribe the rest of his family out here will work perfectly once Jake sets foot on Melrose. Heh, heh, heh.

Gretchen - thank you for sharing so much of your life with me. You've enriched my life in so many ways, so selflessly, so many times. You've taught me so much! Thank you, thank you, thank you :)

stupid bowl

But he had fun and looks so cute :)


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please excuse laura from updating her blog for the past two weeks...

So yeah...my excuse for not posting in forever is, of course, The Shingles. Or Leg Herpes, or just "the herpes" when I was really feeling grouchy. My G-D is that some kind of pain! The nerve pain just shoots up and down and all over the place. My pain was mostly in my lower back and legs even though the rash was only on one leg. Oh, and I have pictures, but no photo editing program to resize them and photobucket isn't being nice to me, so I'll spare you the leg herpes for tonight. But photos are coming, I promise.

Apparently not many people are able to get through a bout of shingles without pain meds. I did cave and ask for some Darvocet about 14 days in, but was declined. I don't want to hear anyone (Josh and Steph) say that I have a low tolerance for pain ever again!

Josh is gone to Miami for the SuperBowl, so I'm left alone to wallow in the misery that is January.


I promise I'll try to be a good poster until Joshie comes home. Then he goes off to work at the Grammys and Jake comes out to stay with us and go to rehearsals. I'm so excited and I'll probably have to send both girls to a convent, or at least their Nana's until Jake is gone.

almost famous

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American Music Awards

I strongly urge anyone on the West Coast (or in any other locations where it hasn't started yet...Arizona?) to watch the American Music Awards tonight on ABC. Gwen Stefani was SOOOOO good at rehearsals last night. No pictures per the artist's request, probably because tonight is the debut performance of her new song "Wind It Up". The performance features a live marching band and tons of dancers. Watching the rehearsals was phenomenal. Gwen was gorgeous (although too skinny for someone who just had a baby...I'm just sayin') and her voice was fab. Her energy while performing seems to come so naturally...where does it come from? Anyway, she's brilliant. (hey look, I found a picture from rehearsals on Gwen's site!)

And remember, Akon/Snoop are definitely worth watching, even if it's just to see the girl with booty for days who dances next to him at one point. Oooh, that was some booty! She's the kind of girl who has every right to wear pants with words on the butt.

Did I mention that I don't even like awards shows?

rehearsals

We were lucky enough to be able to go see Snoop Dogg and Akon rehearsing for an upcoming performance that shall remain nameless. (unless you call me, then I'll tell you) Yes, my girls watched a risque performance. Yes, that's a pole you see in the background of some of the pictures.
Pick your jaw up off the floor, Gretchen. We talked to them both about all of it. They'll be fine. I love the spontainety of rehearsals.

This afternoon we're going to see Gwen Stefani rehearsing. Josh is out of town, so it's just going to be me and the girls. Pictures later tonight or maybe even tomorrow, since I'm on my own. :(

no grotto!

I just wanted to let everyone know that my dear, sweet, beloved husband is working at THE PLAYBOY MANSION tonight. Sure, he may be working off-site for a while, but I'd be kidding myself if I thought he wasn't going to be at the house/party at all. Yes, I was pissed when I found out. No, I'm not pissed anymore, but I'm certainly not excited either. And yes, the one rule is NO GROTTO. I don't care how magical the circumstances, who is or isn't there.

NO GROTTO.

celebrity! cooking! showdown!

Guess who starts work on this next week as a script supervisor? Pray to the entertainment gods that this gets picked up....

"Celebrity Cooking Showdown!!!!"
Alison Sweeney (Sami on Days of our Lives), country singer Big Kenny, Ja Rule and Tom Arnold are among the celebrities who have been lined up for the new cooking competition series, "Celebrity Cooking Showdown". They will be joined by celebrity chefs Wolfgang Puck, Cat Cora and Govind Armstrong, executive chef and owner of Los Angeles restaurant Table 8. The hosts of Showdown will be Alan Thicke (Growing Pains) and Sandra Lee (Semi-Homemade Cooking With Sandra Lee).It will air five straight nights at 8 p.m. beginning April 17.source: SoapTownUSA.comedit: just found out that Naomi Campbell will be on it too. Plus Tony Gonzales of the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs, volleyball star Gabrielle Reese, struggling singer Ashley Parker Angel and Miss USA 2005 Chelsea Cooley.the show will air on NBC.

tales from the academy awards

Jon Stewart was walking down the halls of the Academy offices earlier this week, looking lost and befuddled. A production assistant asked him if he needed help finding anything, to which Stewart replied with a signature eyebrow raise, "New York?"

Combattants de Foo

Deep breath.
I'm back from the dress rehearsal for the MTV Movie Awards at the Shrine Auditorium. It was VERY cool to see Josh in his element and at work. It was cool to see the after party lounge they'd set up in the middle of the back of the Shrine. (red and white theme...mostly white with red accents a la Virgin...it was hosted by Virgin, natch) It was cool to see the staging area for the three bands that are performing - Eminem, Mariah Carey and the Foo Fighters. It was intimidating also, knowing that I was wearing a soft pass that said "Talent" and not quite knowing how to work my way around backstage. Josh was busy, so I couldn't ask him for help. But one trip to the restrooms and I figured my way around. Phew!

Since I got there later in the rehearsal (notice I didn't say "late"!) I missed Eminem and Mariah Carey. Yes, I was crushed. Not. There were random crew people standing in for the presenters and they each went through the presenter's lines. The teleprompter screen was HUGE! I fell in love with all the cameras. I never thought a sea of lenses and cameras would make such an impression on me. The extendable camera was just awesome. I couldn't stop watching it. (must find out its technical name!) Even the regular old film cameras were all new and digital. No more looking in the lens - the videographer has the camera strapped to his shoulder in a harness and a small screen the size of a GameBoy that goes around the front to chest level. That was tight.

On to Jimmy Fallon. What a funny, funny guy. They had some good jokes in there and Jimmy was wearing a green tie. However, he wasn't in full makeup (tsk, tsk) and you could really tell the difference. He had a dark mustache shadow and his face actually looked a little chubby. Swollen? Sorry Jimmy - stage makeup makes a difference. I still love you.

The piece de resistance was, of course, my beloved Foo Fighters. Their backdrop was a bunch of speakers jumbled on top of each other. Got to watch soundcheck, complete with the roadies tuning the instruments and doing sound check. Then, suddenly, Dave himself was onstage in a black KISS Gene Simmons t-shirt. He's much taller than I thought, and much skinnier. But he also has beautiful skin, which is something you'd never know. They did three runs of their new single "The Best of You" and one without vocals. I love how Dave closes his eyes when he sings. Everyone was really spot on and there weren't any kinks to work out. Josh gave me earplugs just in case but I much preferred the full effect of sitting second row center. Yes! Second row center! In the "lounge" with uncomfortable chairs and a few couches. Watch for it if you watch the show. I sat next to Ziyi Zhang and Johnny Knoxville's seats. Dave cracked a few jokes on the mic and he and Taylor did a few minutes of jamming back and forth, playing Sting covers and probably a riff off their new album, or something they just made up. Whatever, I hadn't heard it before. Seeing those little moments are what makes an experience like today's priceless. The natural banter, the smooth merging of drums and guitar between old friends. No need to communicate their next moves - they know each other's. Very, very cool.

Other things I forgot to mention: I also saw Yellowcard perform their cover of Simple Plan's "Don't You (Forget About Me)" from The Breakfast Club. Great cover and an incredible montage from the movie. I loved it. By the way, when did the movie become grainy? Am I that old? Oy. Also got to see the Tom Cruise montage (way too long) that will be played when Katie Holmes (or is it Kate now?) presents him with some generational old fogey award. The montage was good, but all I could think was "Tom - the magic is over." Sad, really. But I really don't see him as being much more than a sum of the characters he's played. I think he's lost track of himself and who he is, or was. Anyway, I'm over you Tom. Gotta keep on keepin' on.

Can't wait to meet the infamous Betty tomorrow and catch up with my October homies. I can't believe our kids are almost 8. EIGHT!

Hats off to anyone who makes it through my rambling about today's events. I'm sure I'll tweak the details as I remember more and digest the day.

carbs = comfort

Our post-Las Vegas honeymoon is officially over. Everyone has gone back to work and school after the Memorial Day holiday. Josh has been working with the writers for the MTV Movie Awards all week. Show day is tomorrow. After getting my hopes up about going to the show, I found out today that if I'm lucky I'll be able to get into a rehearsal tomorrow during the day. Wah. But rehearsing Foo is better than no Foo at all, so I'll take what I can get.

We lived through a rent crisis - again. Grammy was hospitalized - again. Grammy is in a rehab facility - again. Nina is on some fabulous trip somewhere - again.

This time, while Josh has been working 18-hour days, I've been courting my loneliness with carbs. Macaroni salad. Potato salad. Rice and beans. Sticky Japanese rice with chicken. Mmmmmm, carbs.

my boyfriend's back...

...but no one's in trouble. How did I ever survive without him?
The girls are over the moon. Kaylie keeps stroking his arm and giving him random kisses and snuggles. Claire just needs Daddy for everything. He's surprised at how Kaylie's grown up in the past few weeks too.

Swimming again today. It must have been a thousand degrees. We wouldn't survive if we weren't able to be in the water! I love the beginning of summer (btw, Spring only lasts a few weeks in my opinion). New bathing suits, new goggles, pool toys, sunscreen. Of course I had to try the new Coppertone Continuous Spray sunblock and I give it two thumbs up for beach use. It does leave a dry film after swimming, but application took like 5 seconds for each kid and you don't need to rub it in. Just let it dry. At the pool, I'd just go with regular sunscreen. Doesn't make much difference.

Cat got a lizard yesterday. It lived. I released it. Another whopper. Where's my counter?

We went to the 5 Freeway Series yesterday, also known as the Dodgers vs. Angels game at Dodger Stadium. It was the girls' first professional baseball game. It totally rocked, except that the Angels won. We had nachos, Dodger Dogs (which Claire wolfed down in record time, shocking us all), peanuts (yeah, I caught the bag with my right hand and the left side of my face. if only Dodgervision had caught that moment!), cotton candy and MORE nachos. There's nothing like singing the National Anthem in a stadium full of people on a warm near-summer night. Talk about feeling patriotic. I'm so glad my kids got to experience that for the first time!

Sigh. Joshie's home. My world is complete again.

a whole week

It's been a week since Josh left. It will be a week until he gets home. It feels like a week since I've last sat down to take any time for myself and write.

Kaylie started out sick last Saturday. Just a cough and cold, but that coughing bullshit is hard for me, what with all the lovely issues I have. I know it's hard on her too, so believe me I try my best to comfort her. Then Claire got sick. Stayed home from school on Thursday cause she coughed all day. I'm not mentioning the unthinkable because I really can't deal with anyone else being sick right now and so far, so good.

Something (most likely a lizard) crawled up inside my washing machine and died. I kid you not. Now I know what decomposition smells like. Shudder. If it weren't so freaking hot outside I might even take it upon myself to take the washer apart - it's that bad. But no, it's 91 degrees outside and I'm just barely managing to keep groceries in the house and the bills paid. The weight of the world is literally on my shoulders. (LITERALLY! Hee. That skit was on MadTV the other day)

I have a sharp pain in the center and to the left of my chest. Is that bad?

We're kicking off summer early tomorrow and going to Steph's to swim. Thank goodness the weather is back. Normal, hot California weather. The kind of weather that we pay good money for! This is such a great time of year - school's ending, Open House is coming up (still one of my favorite school events!), all the stores break out the red, white and blue decorations, the sand toys, the shorts, the sunscreen. I get to break out the summer clothes. Pack up the sweaters and long sleeves. We get to play at the park in the evening when it's still warm. Summer fruits and vegetables. Barbecuing. Swimming all day at Steph's. Boogie boarding at the beach. Sand everywhere - and I don't even mind! Sleeping good, long, tired sleeps until we get up and start all over again the next day. No set bedtimes. We can stay out late every night. I love summer.

countdown ticker

so, he's gone.

And I'm sad, sad, sad. Actually, I don't miss him too much at the moment but it's hanging over my head like a dark cloud. I know those last few days (and a couple in between) are going to be hard. I've tried my best to drown my sorrows in pretty paper and chocolate, but I still feel outnumbered and overwhelmed.